Manage your subscription

Gene map

The race to complete a map of the human genetic code has shifted up a gear.
Incyte Pharmaceuticals, a biotechnology company in California, has announced
that it intends to complete the map within a year—two years ahead of its
competitor, Celera Genomics in Maryland.

Incyte admits that its genome map will have small gaps, but says they will be
unimportant. The company hopes to sell the information to drugs companies, who
could use it to determine how different people will react to drugs.